Subjunctive

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Subjunctive \Sub*junc"tive\, a. [L. subjunctivus, fr.
     subjungere, subjunctum, to subjoin: cf. F. subjonctif. See
     {Subjoin}.]
     Subjoined or added to something before said or written.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     {Subjunctive mood} (Gram.), that form of a verb which express
        the action or state not as a fact, but only as a
        conception of the mind still contingent and dependent. It
        is commonly subjoined, or added as subordinate, to some
        other verb, and in English is often connected with it by
        if, that, though, lest, unless, except, until, etc., as in
        the following sentence: "If there were no honey, they
        [bees] would have no object in visiting the flower."
        --Lubbock. In some languages, as in Latin and Greek, the
        subjunctive is often independent of any other verb, being
        used in wishes, commands, exhortations, etc.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Subjunctive \Sub*junc"tive\, n. (Gram.)
     The subjunctive mood; also, a verb in the subjunctive mood.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  subjunctive
       adj : relating to a mood of verbs; "subjunctive verb endings"
       n : a mood that represent an act or state (not as a fact but) as
           contingent or possible [syn: {subjunctive mood}]